Former Shas party minister, Rabbi Shlomo Benizri, told Kol Chai Radio’s Betzalel Kahan on Wednesday morning, 13 Adar, that the thought of convicting someone based primarily or exclusively on the testimony of a state witness is absurd to put it mildly.

Benizri’s remarks come on the heels of statements made to the media this week by Moshe Sela, the former building contractor turned state witness in his case. Benizri explained that since the case some twenty years ago he has been davening, davening to HKBH that one day his name would be cleared, and that day has come.

As reported by YWN-ISRAEL, Sela has admitted to lying to keep himself out of prison, explaining “It was Benizri or me, so I agreed to say what police instructed me to say”. Sela has publicly asked for mechila, and insists one should not be quick to judge him unless one has been under police pressure as he was, leaving him to believe his life would end and his children would have no one unless he cooperates, which he did.

Benizri told Kahan that he initially wanted to file for a retrial to officially clear his name, but after consulting with immediate and extended family, he has decided to leave things the way they are, “because the family is unwilling to go through that hell again” he explained.

Benizri added that today, to think the state is trying to indict a prime minister on the testimony of a state witness is unbelievable. He described “A state witness is a criminal seeking to cut a deal and get out of prison, as much as possible, at the expense of someone else”. He added that his attorney, with whom he consulted after Sela admitted to his false testimony, explained he has an excellent chance at a re-trial because the court transcript states specifically that the bulk of the conviction rests on the testimony of the state witness.

Benizri explained at best, a state witness can add some evidence to the state’s case but to think a criminal looking to stay out of prison can do so by convicting an innocent person is madness and that is what happened to him and this is what is going on against PM Netanyahu today.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)